Lens vs Lyonnais preview - Lens pitch worries Lyon boss

Posted Friday, January 16, 2015 by PA

Lyon boss Hubert Fournier has called on league chiefs to deduct points from teams that allow their pitches to deteriorate as he prepares his side for a bumpy ride against Lens on Saturday.

This season has seen Lens play the bulk of their home matches at the Stade de la Licorne, home to Amiens, while the Stade Bollaert-Delelis undergoes extensive renovation work.

Lyon have expressed concern about the state of the playing surface, which has been badly affected by the winter weather.

"Yes, it worries me," Fournier said. "It's also deplorable for the image of French professional football.

"I would like us to play on a pitch that meets the standard of Ligue 1. I don't feel the league is taking account of this.

"The solutions to remedy this? Why not take away points? Why not have an impact on the payments from TV rights?"

Fournier, meanwhile, will be hoping his team have a head for heights after climbing to the top of the table.

He said on Lyon's official website: "This week, we haven't talked about being in first place. We're concentrating on how we have got there and how we can continue in this dynamic. Nobody is speaking openly about the title. The only objective is to beat Lens."

Striker Alexandre Lacazette has put away 19 goals in 20 matches for the leaders this season, and Lyon know wealthy clubs could be targeting the 23-year-old.

Fournier said: "He is one of Europe's top strikers and that has a price when you see for example what Manchester City paid for (Wilfried) Bony."

Bony was a B£25million recruit by City from Swansea.

Lens head coach Antoine Kombouare, whose side sit second bottom in Ligue 1, summed up the reality of the home side's task as he evaluated Lyon's strength.

"They have the best attack in Ligue 1, with 43 goals scored," he said, according to the Lens website.

"Lyon are on a run of five consecutive wins. In their last three league matches they've scored 11 goals and conceded none. They have the second best defence in the league. Alexandre Lacazette is the top scorer in Ligue 1 and the best passer in his team.

"We want to make a small interruption to their journey. It's going to be difficult but we believe. Always."